Sod cutting and removing device.



I No. 887,009.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. J. A. MUSGROV E, JR.

sen CUTTING AND REMOVING 1135305. APPLICATION FILED MARJO, 1908.

Jam est/4: iffa/ y/ agzjfi- JAMES A. MUSGROVE, JR. OF

NORTON. VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 CA'MM.

PATTESON, Ul" NORTON, VIRGINIA.

SOD CUTTINGAND BEBEGVZING DEVICE).

Specification of Letters Patent.

l mented May 5, 18653.

Application filed March 10, 1968. Serial No. dfdflfioll.

I '0 all whom it mfr concern:

Be it known that l. JAMES A. Mossnovn, Jr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norton, in the county of Wise and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful linprovemcnts in Sod (hitting and Removing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sod cutting and removing device in the nature. of a spade, .vhcreby the sods can be readily cut in uniform size and shape and with ease and (lespat-ch.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction of devices of this character so as to be comparativoly easy and inexpensive to manufacture, convenient to use, and of durable and substantial design.

A further objcct of the invention is the provision of a sod cutter and remover consisting of a pair of right-angularly disposed blades, the nain one of which is provided with a socket for receiving the handle of the implement, while the upper edge of the other or auxiliary blade and a portion of the upper edge of the main blade are formed into inwardly-cxtemling flanges to constitute a foot rest. I

W'ith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sod ding spade. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3*3, Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates an ordinary spade handle of wood or other suitable construction and secured rigidly to the cutting and removing blades. The main blade 1 is provided with a socket 2 rising from its upper edge into which the lower end of the handle is fitted snd rigidly secured, and extending forwardly from the right-hand ver tical. edge of the main blade and integrs connected with the latter an anxilisry blsdc 3, the lower edges of the blades being" Bhilwi? shed at 4 so as to readily pierce the sod. The blades are of substantislly the mensions so that perfectly square sods can be cut. The n or ed e of the auxilior blade l P b is bent inwardly into a lateral flange 5, and the upper edge of the blade 1 betweenthe central, socket 3 and blade 3 and at the oppo site side of the socket is bent forwardly into flanges 6, one of which cooperates with the flange 5 to form a foot rest.

in using the implement for cutting the edges of a piece of sod, the implement is held vertically so that both blades will rest on top of the sod to be cut and the right foot is placed on top of the rest formed by the flanges 5 and 6, and pressure ap lied equally on both blades so that they wi descend to the some depth. The socket 2 serves as a stop against which the heel of the foot bears,

while the ball. of the foot will rest approximately at the center of the blade 3 so that the pressure will be up lied to both blades sd'a' cent the centers tiercof. After the blades have been penetrated to the desired depth, the implement is removed and reversed so that the other two sides of the square of sod will be cut, it requiring only two cuts for severing the four sides of the sod. in removing the sod, the main blade 1 is used, the implement bein held almost in a horizontal plane in the usual manner so that the blade can be pushed under the sod and sever it from the earth, care being taken to insure uniform thickness. As the sod is removed, one edge there of slides along the blade 3, the latter blade following in one of the cuts previously made in laying out the squares. The ,nuxiliary blade and foot rest serve from accidentally drooping 0% the main blade when the sod is ocing carried on the implement to the point where the sod is to be laid.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with fthe accompanying drawing, the advantages of'lhe construction and of the method of o oration will be readily ap arent to those ski led in the art to which t e in vention appertains, and while lhsvc described the principle of o eration of the invention, together with tie device which} a. it is to prevent the sod.

the upper centrel 1. In at device of the class described 601D- Erisinge main blade, en euxiliar blade, at

endle attached to the middle oi the main Media, and a foot rest formed partly on each hlede.

2, A device of the class described coma main blade, iifOI'WitIdW-Giitshding ciizrilicry blede integrally connected with the niein blade end extending at right an Ice thereto, a hendle-receiving socket to rrne at art of the main blade, e hendle in the socsiet, and horizontally-exsszooe I tending flanges at the top edges of the blades to constitute a foot rest.

3. A device of the class described com-r prisii g a single iece of metal bent into main and auxiliary b ades disposed at an angle to each other, one blade having a portion formed into a handle-receiving socket and provided with a flange extending from the socket to one edge, and the other blade having a flange arranged in the same plane with the other flange to cooperate therewith. for

formin r a foot rest, and a handle secured in.

the sci socket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence 

